TRAVEL

LOOK: List of cancelled festivals in the Philippines amid COVID-19

Exequil Basister

March 13, 2020

Department of Health (DOH) has announced on Thursday that the Philippines has now 52 confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19. This number has been fast-rising prompting numerous organizers to declare the cancellation of some upcoming festivals in the country.

This prominent flower festival of the country has been scrapped after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong followed the recommendation of the city’s inter-agency task force on COVID-19.

The festival was originally scheduled on February 1 but was moved to a later date on March 21, as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus. But since the virus is not yet contained, it is now completely cancelled. With this development, we will not be seeing for this year, the famous grand street parade of flower floats of the fiesta.

Baguio’s ukay-ukay market was also ordered closed to aid in the prevention of the spread of the virus.

2020 will mark Lubao Hot Air Balloon Festival’s seventh year in opening its doors for the people. Unfortunately, the organizers of the event decided to cancel the hot air balloon fiesta due to health and safety concerns because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The event was set to take place on April 3 to 5 at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga.

Malaybalay City’s celebrated Kaamulan Festival was also not pushing through this year after Governor Jose Maria Zubiri of Bukidnon signed a memorandum prompting all mayors, barangays officials, and Lumad leaders to halt the preparation for the fiesta which was supposed to happen on March 23 to April 23.

Kaamulan Festival is an ethnic cultural affair joined by the seven major Lumad groups in Bukidnon. This month-long festivity which attracts thousands of tourists is characterized by Lumad games, street dances, and a rodeo participated by homegrown cowboys.

Joining the list of festivals that will not be occurring for this year due to the virus scare is Albay’s Magayon Festival. This renowned fiesta which was staged every April in honor of the beauty of Mayon Volcano will be taking a break this year following the order of Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara last February.

The decision to scrap the event was also due to the threat that the festivity might be an avenue to spread COVID-19. Bichara has already approved the province’s purchase of four thermal scanners to assist in the identification of people with fever and flu-like symptoms.

5. Aliwan Fiesta

Following the series of advisories issued by various Philippine government agencies with regard to health precautions…

The Philippines’ Grand Festival of Champions- Aliwan Fiesta, will also take a break this year. The event was set to happen on April 23 to 25 but was canceled following the continuous threat of COVID-19 in the country.

Aliwan Fiesta was founded in 2003 to be a platform for provinces to showcase their rich culture and heritage. This is organized by Manila Broadcasting Company and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The festivity serves as an arena for various contingents in the Philippines to compete in the grand float parade, cultural street dance competition, and the Reyna ng Aliwan Fiesta.